Here’s Trudy!

Although she didn’t come through the BOB program, Trudy was one of the many beagles out there in the wide world who needed some help, or who knows what might have become of her.

This little beauty is about 5-1/2 years old now. According to the story I was told, she'd been purchased at two years old with the intention of turning her into a hunting dog. But that didn’t go over well so, to earn her keep, she was bred a few times and had some litters.

Just before Christmas, her owners put an ad on Kijiji that was noticed by a friend of mine. The ad said they were leaving on a five-month trip the next day (!!) and needed to find a new home for Trudy immediately. I hesitate to think they would have handed her over to the first living, breathing, semi-coherent person who showed up, but in this case it was yours truly. I met Trudy for 10 minutes at the owner's business north of Barrie, Ont., and brought her home. (Kind of like speed dating, except you decide to get married after 10 minutes.)

To their credit, the owners did want a good home for her, though they certainly left the details to the last minute. I think maybe they knew she should be spayed for her own health, and didn’t want to bear the expense.

She is an adorable little creature, the same small beagle-type (about 25 lbs) as my Ella, who died in August. I've never met a beagle who loves to snuggle more than Trudy—she is so happy sitting on my lap or curling up next to me in bed. She's well house-trained and rarely barks, which is important since we live in an apartment in Toronto during the week. We’ve been having fantastic walks and Trudy is getting bolder and friskier and more playful by the day. Just last week, she was throwing a stick up in the air and then pouncing on it, tail wagging mightily. A big, positive change from the cautious, uncertain beagle who came home with me.

It took some time after Ella died to even think about another beagle, but then the right one came along and, you know, I’ll bet Ella had something to do with that.

For those beagle lovers who can, please consider setting up an on-line monthly gift for BOB via their secure Canada Helps Giving Page (see the button on the left side of the home page labelled HOWL of Fame . . . Meet Our Monthly BOBefactors). It’s one way Marna and the rest of the BOBateers can continue to do their fantastic work helping beagles experiencing troubled times. The program provides funding that BOB can count on, and that means more help for our beloved homeless howlers. Please arrange monthly giving if you can.

Allan

(Trudy's Forever Dad)